Register Today for the 4th Annual BOAT DECORATING CONTEST!

What would summer and July 4th holiday be without the MPF’s BOAT DECORATING CONTEST! Our judges have been selected, the Board of Directors appropriated the ca$h for the prizes, now all we need are the participants and spectators! Those of you who have participated in the past know the competition is fun and fierce!  All are invite to enter their vessel in the competition or just meet at Blueberry Island and join the fun!    This year the contest will be held on Saturday, July 6th at 2:00 PM.    To be eligible for prizes, register today at boat.decorating.contest@gmail.com.  Be creative!  All vessels are welcome – in past years we’ve had entries from paddle boats and kayaks, to rowboats and jetskis, to ski boats and pontoon boats – we’ve had them all.  So join the fun!  Here’s a few of our past entries!

WATERLEVEL UPDATE Wednesday, June 19th: Lake waterlevel at FULL+.

This morning the Town reports 6″ of water is flowing over the flashboards as we keep ahead of the rainfall and runoff. With yesterday’s forecast of scattered showers bringing more than expected the level has increased. Goal is to bring down to 1-2″ of flow over the boards to maintain full. 5-6 day forecast calling for no rain.  Our dam caretaker remains diligent both at Manchaug Pond dam and downstream.  Long-term plan is to maintain FULL through summer season – weather permitting.  Questions? Concerns? Ask them here with the MPF.

All Smiles as BIG Raffle Winner Takes the Ca$h Prize!

Congratulations to our BIG Raffle Winners George and Lynn Carlson-LeBlanc!  Lynn’s winning ticket, # 22, was drawn at the recent MPF Spring Social in our reverse raffle surviving over 99 pulls in the losers first drawing.  Given the winner’s choice of a trip to anywhere worth up to $5,000 or a check for $4,000 cash,  Lynn took the cash!   Her ticket was purchased from her neighbor Dave Schmidt, MPF President. Lynn Carlson-LeBlanc with her husband George, receives her prize winnings on the shores of Manchaug Pond from  George “Gig” Cammuso, MPF Fundraising Committee Co-chairman   The MPF thanks all those who sold and all those who purchased tickets in this fundraising event.  $6,000 was raised to further our work in the protection and enhancement of Manchaug Pond.

The Storm – during and after!

In the afternoon, all sunshine, blue skies and calm water was lost to a sudden storm which came in from the north. Boaters were caught by surprise as thunder and lightening brought rain and wind.    Once the storm was done, blue skies resumed and a rainbow blessed the skies over Manchaug Pond.

WATERLEVEL UPDATE: Friday, June 14th: Waterlevel stable and lake at FULL+

Waterlevel was stable this morning with another 2 1/4″ of rainfall received overnight. Level did rise during the day but our dam caretaker remains diligent both at Manchaug Pond dam and downstream.  Long-term plan is to maintain FULL through summer season – weather permitting. Questions? Concerns? Ask them here with the MPF

Flag Day on Manchaug Pond

Flag pole at Blueberry Island Check this link for information on proper hanging and flag etiquette.   Be ready for July 4th!

Calm with more rain clouds moving in.

This morning the lake remains calm and quiet – a welcome change from yesterday’s gale force winds.  Overnight the waterlevel has come down a few inches as our dam owner works to bring the waterlevel to full and address the continued rainfall and runoff. It is before 11 AM and the raindrops are falling here on Manchaug Pond… rain which the forecast expected to start later this afternoon. We hear sunshine is the word for the weekend!

WATERLEVEL UPDATE: Weds, June 12th

An additional 2 1/4″ of rain was received yesterday. Low-level gate is wide open and water running over the flashboards to bring waterlevel down to full.  Long term plan is to maintain FULL through summer season – weather permitting.   Question? Concerns? Ask them here with the MPF.

Mute Swan Nesting at Stevens Pond

This spring, while we were all looking to the Beaton Farm in the northwest, working to make this conservation dream a reality for Manchaug Pond…  a new lake neighbor flew in to our southeast, making Stevens Pond their home: a pair of Mute Swans. In the cattails on the end of Stevens Pond by the shoreline bordering Parker Road, Sutton, they built their nest some time ago. Would anyone from Stevens Pond give us a report as to the status of the nest with the rise in waterlevel? You should know that mute swans are not native to North America and considered an invasive species.   MassWildlife reports they were: “Originally brought in from Europe and Asia as ornamental waterfowl to grace the ponds of Long Island estates, some escaped to the wild where they became established, spread up and down the coast and are found in many inland waters. Highly aggressive and territorial, there is evidence that they are displacing native waterfowl and can be destructive to some aquatic habitats, destroying more vegetation than they actually eat.” “Mute swans are protected under state regulations and may not be hunted. They are not protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty as they …

WATERLEVEL UPDATE: A BIG MPF thanks to our new dam owner!

A huge Manchaug Pond thank you to the Town of Sutton, our new dam owner, for safely bringing us through tropical storm Andrea. Town staff check and adjusted the dam and waterlevel before, during and after the storm, which meant more than once on Saturday when the most rainfall was realized. A view of the flow from the Manchaug Pond dam this morning. We came into this tropical storm at a lower waterlevel allowing us to accept the storm rainfall thereby preventing flooding around the lake and downstream.   This morning, the low-level gate was opened a few inches more to bring us down in anticipation of the next round of rain and to accommodate the runoff flowing in from the watershed. Once we are past tomorrow and the threat of more rain, the town intends to keep the waterlevel at full  all summer long –  providing the weather cooperates. Questions? Complaints?   Comment here and we will get you an answer. Flow at Stevens Pond dam is 8-9 ” above their flashboards.